Spring cushion assembly



July 25, 1961 J, RYMLAND 2,993,215

SPRING CUSHION ASSEMBLY Filed July 9, 1956 INVENT OR My 2 731130] @m BYM v MM ATTORNEYS.

United rates Fatent C 2,993,215 SPRING CUSHION ASSEMBLY Murray JeromeRymland, 2700 Hollins Road,

Baltimore 30, Md. Filed July 9, 1956, Ser. No. 596,590 4 Claims. (Cl.-270) This invention relates in general to spring cushion assemblies ofthe type described in my prior Patent No. 2,630,586, granted March 10,1953, and in my copending applications, Serial No. 384,874, filedOctober 8, 1953, now Patent No. 2,791,783, issued May 14, 1957, andSerial No. 495,309, filed March 18, 1955, now Patent No. 2,857,603,issued October 28, 1958. More particularly, this invention relates to anovel means for interconnecting a plurality of helical coil springs inrows and files to define a spring cushion assembly.

In my prior patent, identified above, a spring assembly was disclosedhaving a clip structure for interconnecting corresponding portions ofoverlapping end convolutions of adjacent springs in the same row withtie wires so that no relative movement or displacement was permittedeither between the overlapping end convolutions and the associated clipor between the overlapping convolutions themselves. That is to say, theoverlapping convolutions and associated clip were connected together sotightly and firmly that movement of any one caused a correspondingmovement of the others. This arrangement resulted in -a spring cushionassembly wherein weight depressions were.

distributed proportionately throughout the entire spring assembly.

Such a rigid connection between the overlapping convolutions and clipswill prevent the spring cushion assembly from being folded or collapsedalong the axis of one of its tie wires. While in some spring cushionassemblies such folding is neither desired nor necessary, it is ofconsiderable importance when the spring cushion assembly is used in abed mattress or the like which is intended to be folded or collapsedwhen not in use.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide aspring cushion assembly that may be folded or collapsed for facilitatingthe handling and storing of such assemblies. A related object is toprovide a novel clip structure constituting a hinge-type connection foradjacent spring coils in the same row of the spring assembly to make theassembly foldable without sacrificing the weight distributing advantagesafiorded by a rigid connection such as the one in my prior patent.

It is another object of this invention to provide a durable andrelatively strong spring cushion assembly which is very responsive tobody weight and similar loads applied thereto, making the assemblyextremely soft and comfortable.

A further object is to provide a spring cushion assembly that isparticularly well adapted to withstand repeated distortions around itsborder or perimeter caused by locally applied forces and also to providean assembly of simplified and inexpensive construction having means atits border strengthening the same and materially reducing the tendencyof the assembly to undergo permanent and unsightly distortions in itsborder regions.

An additional object is to provide a novel border means for the springassembly to prevent padding or filling material normally used incovering the springs, from entering into the component springs of theassembly by passage through the voids or cleavages between the springsin outside or border rows and files.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a springcushion assembly with a novel border structure at the end files ofsprings for readily interconnecting these springs and for providing ameans to which thefabric covering for the assembly may be attached.

Further objects of this invention will be in part ob vious and in partpointed out hereinafter.

The invention and the novel features thereof may best be made clear fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a spring cushion assemblyconstituting a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one form of tie wire, partially, cutaway;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of another form of tie wire;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view, partly insection, of the construction of the connection between overlapping endconvolutions of adjacent springs;

FIGURE 5 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 4 but showing the overlappingend convolutions displaced or pivoted from their normal, substantiallycoplanar position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged end elevational view of a preferred form of theclip or clamp member, per se, after it has been connected in the springassembly.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the spring cushion assemblyconstituting a preferred embodiment of my invention, comprises aplurality of component helical coil springs 10, constructed of wire in aconventional manner, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The springs arearranged in rows 12 and files 14, and each row of springs is aligned andarranged with an arcuate portion of the upper and lower end convolutionsof each spring overlapping a corresponding portion of an adjacent springin the same row, whereby one such portion becomes an overlying arcuateportion 20 and the other becomes an underlying arcuate portion 22, and aspace 24 is provided between the overlapped portions.

To fix adjacent rows in the desired parallel spaced relationship, and toinsure that the corresponding springs of adjacent rows are properlyarranged in files 14, a plurality of tie 'wires 26 extend transverselyof the rows, parallel to the files 14, and along the lines of overlap ofthe coils; that is, along the lines of overlap between the files. Asshown in FIGURES 2 and 3, each tie wire 26 is provided with a pluralityof pairs of spaced depressions 28, each pair of spaced depressions beingseparated by an upwardly projecting insert 30' therebetween. Whenpositioned in the assembly, each pair of depressions 28 partiallyembraces an intersecting section of an overlapping pair of arcuateportions 20, 22 and the intermediate insert 30 projects into the space24 therebetween. As will be readily understood, the pair of depressions28 are spaced along the length of the tie wires 26 to suitably spaceadjacent rows 12 of component springs from each other, the structureillustrated in FIGURE 1 merely being a partial view of two spring rows12 and two spring files 14 of the overall assembly.

The present invention contemplates the employment of a clip or clampmember 60- for interfitting the tie wires 26 with adjacent overlappingsprings 10 and also for interconneoting the end convolutions of thesprings 10. A preferred embodiment of clip 60 is best seen in FIGURE 6,and it includes transversely spaced portions 62, 64. Portion 62comprises spaced legs 66, 68 joined by a bight portion 70 to define aninner groove 72. The portion 64 also includes spaced legs 74, 76 joinedby a bight portion 78 to define another inner groove 80 in theclipstructure, which is parallel to the first groove 72. These groovesreceive adjacent overlapping arcuate portions of end convolutions of thesprings 10 for interconnecting the latter. A depressed portion 82 isformed in the clip 60 and defines an inner ridge 84 intermediate theparallel grooves -72, 80. The depressed portion 82 joins adjacent legs66,

lationship'of the size of clip grooves 72, 80 to the diameter of thewire in the springs 10. In my prior patent, the clip structure thereindisclosed was intended to tightly and frictionally clasp the arcuateportions of corresponding end convolutions of adjacent springs in such amanner that virtually a unitary structure resulted. This structureprevented any relative sliding or pivotal displacement between theadjacent end convolutions and the clip, or between the adjacent endconvolutions themselves so that downward pressures applied to one springwere transmitted proportionately to the other springs in the assembly.

"It has been found that by enlarging the clip inner grooves a slightamount, the overlapping convolution portions will be loosely embraced bythe clip portions 62, 64 so that they may relatively rotate within theirrespectiveclip grooves. However, if the clip grooves 72, 80 a'ie 'notmade too largeit has been found that the resulting connection will stilloperate to transmit and distribute downward pressures applied to onespring substantially proportionately to the other springs in theassembly.

"This pressure distribution is due to a considerable extent to inwardforcesexerted on the clips 60 by the tie wires. By inward forces I meanforces exerted on clip' 60 in an inward directionfro-m the spring endconvolutions'and substantially parallel to the spring axes. These inwardforces are produced by proper vertical spacing between tie wiredepressions'28 and the tie wire inserts 30 (as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3).That is to say, since the depressions '28 embrace, the undersideof theoverlapping spring convolutions, the tie wire insert 30 will betensioned.

over the clip depressedportion 82 if it is vertically spaced closer tothe tie wire depressions 23 than the clip depressed portion 82 whenthese parts are assembled as il-v lustrated in FIGURE 4. This tensioningof the tie wire inserts 30 creates the inward forces on the clip 60thereby causing corresponding inward forces on the overlappingconvolutions in the clips, tending to make the connection rigid betweenthe overlapping convolutions whereby downward pressures on any onespring will be transmitted or distributed to other springs in theassembly. Moreover, this inward force obviously can be increased byreducing the vertical distance between the tie wire depressions andinserts.

"The transverse dimension of the base or bottom of inner grooves 72, 80,preferably is at least as large as the diameter of the wire in thespring convolutions, while the overlapping legs 68, 76 are slightlydisplaced from each other and are not pressed or clinched tightlyagainst the,

arcuate portions of the overlapping end convolutions.

By virtue of this construction, the clip 60 of thepresent inventionpermits a hinging action on the part of the ad jacent overlapping endconvolutions (see FIGURE 5) so that when the whole assembly isconstructed with these clips, an entire file '14 of springs may bepivoted or swung simultaneously with respect to an adjacent file 14 ofsprings. 'The planes of the individualehdconvolu tions'of the springs inthe middle adjacent files of theassembly'may be pivoted towards eachother through substantially a 90 angle to fold the assembly in half.During such pivoting or swinging, the clips 60 on the fold line willundergo a small counterclockwise movement as viewed in FIGURES 4 and 5.i i V 'This hinging or swinging action between adjacent files lf Willi ere p i s em i It will be thus apparent that the structure of the clip 60permits the manufacture of a spring cushion assembly having thedesirable characteristics of a rigidly connected assembly, combined withthe characteristics of being coll'apsible and extremely soft andcomfortable.

The ends of the tiewires 26 preferably are formed in the same manner asthe tie wires described in my prior application, Serial No. 495,309,mentioned above. That is, the tie wires 26 extend outwardly beyond theoverlap of. the outside row 12 and are then transversely bent to definea plane 36 which is substantially coplanar with the planes defined bythe convolutions of the coils in, being disposed in the cleavage 35defined by adjacent end portions of the end convolutions of the coilsprings and the edge line 34 (the later. being shown as a phantom line);In defining the plane 36, the ends of the tie wires preferably arefbentinto a triangular or delta shape or any other convenient polygonalshape. The tie wires 26 connecting the upper end convolutions of thesprings 10, may be separate from the tie wires connecting the bottom endconvolutions of the springs (as in FIGURE 3) or they may be integrallyconnected thereto by means of a sear spring having two sear legs 46, 48tangentially joined to a suitable coil spring 50 (as in FIGURE 2).

i A border structure preferably including a straight wire 99, (seeFIGURE 1), arranged in combination with a tie wire 26 and clips '60, isutilized for interconnecting the laterally outermost portions of the endconvolutions of the springs, in the end files. The clips 60- are fittedover the laterally outermost portions of end convolutions of springs inan 'end file, the arcuate convolution portion being fitted into clipgroove 72, with the other clip groove disposed radially inwardly fromthe convolution and both clipgrooves facing inwardly of the spring.

The'depressed portions 28 on the tiewire 26 are disposed inembracingrelation with the axially inward surface of. the end convolutions withthe insert portion 30 of the tie wire disposed in the depressed portion32 of the clip. The border wire is preferably more flexible than the tiewires and extends on the other side of the end convolutions and radiallyinwardly from the depressed portions 28. of the tie wire. Border wire 96is flexed downwardly to extend through each of the clip grooves 80thereby forming an interlaced and interlocked connection with the tiewire and end convolutions of the springs in the end files. The ends ofborder Wire 90 and its associated tie wire 26 may be reversely. bentinwardly to form loops or eyes 92 as shown, to'eliminate any undesirablesharp edges at these points.

While not shown, a similar border structure to that described.immediately above will be provided for the opposite end file of thespring assembly. These border struc'turescooperate withthe planes36 onthe ends of tie wires 26 at the extremities of rows 12 to strengthen theborder rowsand files of the assembly for resisting permanent andunsightly distortion of the springs 10" therein. Additionally, theseedge structures prevent the fabric covering and the padding around thespring assembly from dropping through the cleavages35 thereby enablingBorder i 0.,m y. al e nss si egribs 9.

both the bottom as well as the top convolutions of the springs in theend files and, although not preferred, they may also be connected to theend convolutions in the extreme or exterior rows of springs. In thelatter case, the tie wires 26 would not be provided with the planar ends36 but would terminate short of the edge line 34.

While the described arrangement of the border wires 90 with a tie wireand clips permits their attachment to the spring assembly to beperformed rapidly and inexpensively, these border wires may be used bythemselves and welded or otherwise connected to the end convolutions inthe border of the assembly.

Variations in the structure of the clip 60, within the scope of thisinvention, will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art,such as changing the shape of the depressed portion 82 or shortening orlengthening the legs 68, 76.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided, by this invention, animproved spring cushion assembly in which the various objectshereinabove set forth, together with many practical advantages aresuccessfully achieved. As various possible embodiments may be made ofthe mechanical features of the present invention, such as thosementioned, all without departing from the scope thereof, it is to beunderstood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. A spring cushion assembly comprising a plurality of parallel rows andparallel files of similar helical coil springs, said springs beinginterconnected with their axes arranged in parallelism, means forinterconnecting the laterally outermost arcuate portions of endconvolutions of the springs in the end files, said means including a tiewire extending parallel to the files and having a plurality of pairs ofspaced depressions with upwardly projecting oifset inserts therebetween,the depressions of each pair being disposed in embracing relation to oneof said arcuate portions at circumferentially spaced points on one sidethereof, with the intermediate olfset insert projecting away from saidpoints, a flexible wire arranged parallel to and coextensive with saidtie wire, said flexible wire being disposed on the other side of saidarcuate portions, and means for interconnecting said arcuate portionswith said flexible wire and with said tie wire ofiset inserts to retainsaid wires in assembled relation engaged to opposite sides of saidarcuate portions.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein the interconnecting meanscomprises a clip having two parallel inner grooves and an outer grooveformed intermediate said inner grooves, said inner grooves receiving thearcuate portion and the flexible wire respectively and the tie wireofiset insert being disposed in said outer groove.

3. A spring cushion assembly of generally rectangular outline comprisinga plurality of parallel rows and parallel files of similar helical coilsprings having their axes arranged in parallelism, each spring having anarcuate portion of an end convolution thereof so overlapping acorresponding convolution portion of an adjacent spring in the same rowas to provide a space between such overlapping portions, a plurality ofparallel tie wires extending transversely of the rows and each tie wirehaving a plurality of pairs of spaced depressions with upwardlyprojecting offset inserts therebetween, the depressions of each pairbeing disposed in embracing relation to the overlapping points of a pairof adjacent arcuate spring portions with the intermediate offset insertprojecting into the space between said arcuate portions, a hinge meansunderlying the projecting ofiset insert of the tie wire andinterconnecting the overlapping arcuate portions of each adjacent pairof end convolutions whereby any file of said springs may be swung withrespect to an adjacent file of said springs, each of the tie wiresextending beyond the overlap of an exterior row of springs into theexterior cleavage defined by the end portions of the overlappingconvolutions, said tie wires having a planar edge support means ofgenerally polygonal shape at the ends thereof and disposed within saidcleavages so as not to interfere with the swinging of said files ofsprings, said planar edge support means at the ends of said tie wiresdefining lines of border support along the two border sidesperpendicular to said files without interfering with the ability of thefiles of springs to be swung with respect to adjacent files, andseparate, elongated border support means interconnected to the springsin each of the two border files of springs and providing lines ofsupport along the two border sides parallel to the files of springs.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said elongated bordersupport means includes a pair of parallel and adjacent wires extendingparallel to and substantially coextensive with each of the two borderfiles of springs, said parallel wires being engaged to the endconvolutions of said springs in said border files and on opposite sidesof said last-named end convolutions, and clip means interlaced with saidparallel wires and said last-named end convolutions and holding saidparallel wires in engagement with said end convolutions.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS184,568 Allen Nov. 21, 1876 970,157 Young Sept. 13, 1910 1,863,450McNally June 14, 1932 1,866,664 Munn July 12, 1932 1,897,396 Oldham Feb.14, 1933 2,050,105 Lewis Aug. 4, 1936 2,465,333 Levine Mar. 22, 19492,478,650 Asaro Aug. 9, 1949 2,515,177 Bank July 18, 1950 2, Ry and M95.3

